NI MOT

35har1old

motorguy said:

Mildly_Miffed said:

motorguy said:

Mildly_Miffed said:

Almost worth getting a boat over for a test.

Theres really no need.  Its just a matter of checking online regularly for a better date.

Meanwhile, over here on the mainland, if it's more than a week or so leadtime, you just phone a different garage...

Oh i'm not condoning the fiasco over here, merely pointing out that it can be mitigated with a little pro activeness.

Being proactive in my case would be applying for appointment for expiry date of 22nd May on the 1st of January 
Just heard the latest. Temporary exemption bring on the 2 year test

35har1old

redped said:

35har1old said:

redped said:

35har1old said:

redped said:

As @motorguy says, just take the first date and then regularly check for a better appointment. I've been doing this for several years, but they now send out a confirmation code via text message each time you log on - possibly to counteract the various websites which offered to find a better appointment for you.

The whole system isn't fit for purpose, and the two new centres at Mallusk and Hydbank are delayed which doesn't help things.  All they do is say this is the new norm, rather than doing anything to improve the situation (e.g. I read an MLA saying yesterday that dealerships should be allowed to do some MOTs, they could hire more staff, be open for longer hours, etc.)

What dealership have equipment to do the test like the MOT center 

I'm not an MOT tester and it wasn't my idea, but with the exception of testing the brakes I'd say most/all of the other checks (lights, horn, seatbelts, checking under the car, etc.) can be carried out by a dealer - a lot of garages offer pre-MOT checks on cars anyway.  With a bit of outside-the-box thinking, garages could have access to a lane in the MOT centre for testing brakes.

The main problem to me is that the civil servants who run the MOT system just accept that things are getting worse, with no evidence of them actually trying to come up with alternatives.

The assembly says no.
Your suggestion that a lane could be hired out to a garage  Which garage?
Unfair to all the other garages in the area. Never mind the additional cost 

I'm not quite sure why you're being so negative about suggestions, they're just that - ideas to try to reduce the backlog.  As I said before, the idea of dealerships doing some MOTs isn't mine, I just mentioned it as something I'd heard mentioned recently as a possible way to help alleviate the current situation.  You then jumped on it and asked which dealerships had the kit to test vehicles, and I pointed out most of the testing could be done at any dealership.

I'm afraid your negativity sounds like a certain political party who is well known for saying no to everything.  What are your suggestions for shortening the MOT queue? 

I am not the one being negative 

 As the idea of using the British and Holland model has been ruled out already by infrastructure minister saying it had flaws it is the only two in Europe that test cars by that method even the people responsible for the test in Britain  the DVSA have concerns over it.Trying to prevent fraud
There is no formal training required only a 2 day course that is to calibrate skills

The current proposal of 2yr tests on cars under 10yr ?
Temporary exemption?
It's down to the owner to make sure the car is roadworthy.
Having a valid MOT doesn't guarantee roadworthiness 


.

motorguy

35har1old said:

redped said:

35har1old said:

redped said:

As @motorguy says, just take the first date and then regularly check for a better appointment. I've been doing this for several years, but they now send out a confirmation code via text message each time you log on - possibly to counteract the various websites which offered to find a better appointment for you.

The whole system isn't fit for purpose, and the two new centres at Mallusk and Hydbank are delayed which doesn't help things.  All they do is say this is the new norm, rather than doing anything to improve the situation (e.g. I read an MLA saying yesterday that dealerships should be allowed to do some MOTs, they could hire more staff, be open for longer hours, etc.)

What dealership have equipment to do the test like the MOT center 

I'm not an MOT tester and it wasn't my idea, but with the exception of testing the brakes I'd say most/all of the other checks (lights, horn, seatbelts, checking under the car, etc.) can be carried out by a dealer - a lot of garages offer pre-MOT checks on cars anyway.  With a bit of outside-the-box thinking, garages could have access to a lane in the MOT centre for testing brakes.

The main problem to me is that the civil servants who run the MOT system just accept that things are getting worse, with no evidence of them actually trying to come up with alternatives.

THE ASSEMBLY SAYS NO
Your suggestion that a lane could be hired out to a garage  Which garage?
Unfair to all the other garages in the area. Never mind the additional cost 
Taking over a lane just to test the brakes only could  reduce capacity further
If the shoe was on the other foot do you think a dealership would let a third party enter there workshop
if it was restricted to a dealership the majority of which are in Belfast you are not increasing capacity sufficiently 

the point being, there needs to be some out of the box thinking done here to resolve this.

Pretending 72+ days is "the new normal" isnt cutting it.

motorguy

redped said:

35har1old said:

redped said:

35har1old said:

redped said:

As @motorguy says, just take the first date and then regularly check for a better appointment. I've been doing this for several years, but they now send out a confirmation code via text message each time you log on - possibly to counteract the various websites which offered to find a better appointment for you.

The whole system isn't fit for purpose, and the two new centres at Mallusk and Hydbank are delayed which doesn't help things.  All they do is say this is the new norm, rather than doing anything to improve the situation (e.g. I read an MLA saying yesterday that dealerships should be allowed to do some MOTs, they could hire more staff, be open for longer hours, etc.)

What dealership have equipment to do the test like the MOT center 

I'm not an MOT tester and it wasn't my idea, but with the exception of testing the brakes I'd say most/all of the other checks (lights, horn, seatbelts, checking under the car, etc.) can be carried out by a dealer - a lot of garages offer pre-MOT checks on cars anyway.  With a bit of outside-the-box thinking, garages could have access to a lane in the MOT centre for testing brakes.

The main problem to me is that the civil servants who run the MOT system just accept that things are getting worse, with no evidence of them actually trying to come up with alternatives.

The assembly says no.
Your suggestion that a lane could be hired out to a garage  Which garage?
Unfair to all the other garages in the area. Never mind the additional cost 

I'm not quite sure why you're being so negative about suggestions, they're just that - ideas to try to reduce the backlog.  As I said before, the idea of dealerships doing some MOTs isn't mine, I just mentioned it as something I'd heard mentioned recently as a possible way to help alleviate the current situation.  You then jumped on it and asked which dealerships had the kit to test vehicles, and I pointed out most of the testing could be done at any dealership.

I'm afraid your negativity sounds like a certain political party who is well known for saying no to everything.  What are your suggestions for shortening the MOT queue? 

Exactly this.

There should be no idea off the table.  It should be "how can we" rather than "can we".

Maybe that particular idea doesnt fly but there must be 20 solutions that could be reviewed rather than just sitting on their hands and pretending its the new normal.

motorguy

I see they have opted for Temporary Exemption Certificates for certain cars, to cut down waiting lists.

https://northernirelandonline.com/mot-testing-update-new-measures-to-address-backlog/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0Gd0QT8VrHIvj_SM9N5JtB36GopZbOEPAiMB_t2Np7OvjHFJX7V1-76dw_aem_ARAZ4rGhtmJuggZbqNPtefDuvJaXoDLV8My-OwMsbe8_xpaQdGHjzCdWiaP0A4peovRllm5DH8XoYKiQAVEk-kgL

My 2018 car benefits from it, but my wifes 2020 car just misses out as its a late in the year car.

That said, my FIL asked me to sort out his MOT date after getting the reminder in on the 30th April for MOT on the 30th May.  Great, i thought.

Went on and got mid August in the Craigavon Centre.  That was at 16.40 or so.

Went on at 17:10 can got 4th June, albeit in the Coleraine Centre.  A bit of a hike, but doable.

Happened to be sitting at 22:00 or so and thought i'd log on and try again.  Watched a few appear and disappear as cancellations came in, people grabbed them, and then freed up their slot.  Within 5 mins a slot came up at 16:40 in Craigavon, 28th May so i grabbed that.

TL;DR - do book any date you can no matter how far out, then regularly check for a better one.

EnPointe

35har1old said:

redped said:

As @motorguy says, just take the first date and then regularly check for a better appointment. I've been doing this for several years, but they now send out a confirmation code via text message each time you log on - possibly to counteract the various websites which offered to find a better appointment for you.

The whole system isn't fit for purpose, and the two new centres at Mallusk and Hydbank are delayed which doesn't help things.  All they do is say this is the new norm, rather than doing anything to improve the situation (e.g. I read an MLA saying yesterday that dealerships should be allowed to do some MOTs, they could hire more staff, be open for longer hours, etc.)

What dealership have equipment to do the test like the MOT center 

you do realise that  on mainland GB including  the IoW and the larger Scottish Islands  local garages  have the full equipment to perform MOTtests 

 the reason NI  has a government run MoT test infrastructure is  more related to  sectarian stuff than the difficulties for  conducting an MoT

jimjames

motorguy said:

Mildly_Miffed said:

motorguy said:

Mildly_Miffed said:

Almost worth getting a boat over for a test.

Theres really no need.  Its just a matter of checking online regularly for a better date.

Meanwhile, over here on the mainland, if it's more than a week or so leadtime, you just phone a different garage...

Oh i'm not condoning the fiasco over here, merely pointing out that it can be mitigated with a little pro activeness.

Maybe the new normal will be booking the next test when you have your current one done!

motorguy

jimjames said:

motorguy said:

Mildly_Miffed said:

motorguy said:

Mildly_Miffed said:

Almost worth getting a boat over for a test.

Theres really no need.  Its just a matter of checking online regularly for a better date.

Meanwhile, over here on the mainland, if it's more than a week or so leadtime, you just phone a different garage...

Oh i'm not condoning the fiasco over here, merely pointing out that it can be mitigated with a little pro activeness.

Maybe the new normal will be booking the next test when you have your current one done!

LOL.  

Speaking of, 6 monthly dental checkups are becoming a thing of the past too now for NHS patients.  Was in a little while ago and they booked me in for the same day next year for my next appointment.

35har1old

EnPointe said:

35har1old said:

redped said:

As @motorguy says, just take the first date and then regularly check for a better appointment. I've been doing this for several years, but they now send out a confirmation code via text message each time you log on - possibly to counteract the various websites which offered to find a better appointment for you.

The whole system isn't fit for purpose, and the two new centres at Mallusk and Hydbank are delayed which doesn't help things.  All they do is say this is the new norm, rather than doing anything to improve the situation (e.g. I read an MLA saying yesterday that dealerships should be allowed to do some MOTs, they could hire more staff, be open for longer hours, etc.)

What dealership have equipment to do the test like the MOT center 

you do realise that  on mainland GB including  the IoW and the larger Scottish Islands  local garages  have the full equipment to perform MOTtests 

 the reason NI  has a government run MoT test infrastructure is  more related to  sectarian stuff than the difficulties for  conducting an MoT

EnPointe said:

35har1old said:

redped said:

As @motorguy says, just take the first date and then regularly check for a better appointment. I've been doing this for several years, but they now send out a confirmation code via text message each time you log on - possibly to counteract the various websites which offered to find a better appointment for you.

The whole system isn't fit for purpose, and the two new centres at Mallusk and Hydbank are delayed which doesn't help things.  All they do is say this is the new norm, rather than doing anything to improve the situation (e.g. I read an MLA saying yesterday that dealerships should be allowed to do some MOTs, they could hire more staff, be open for longer hours, etc.)

What dealership have equipment to do the test like the MOT center 

you do realise that  on mainland GB including  the IoW and the larger Scottish Islands  local garages  have the full equipment to perform MOTtests 

 the reason NI  has a government run MoT test infrastructure is  more related to  sectarian stuff than the difficulties for  conducting an MoT

The MOT predates the"troubles"